
Alex Cora was fired as manager of the Red Sox immediately after a 17-1 victory over the Orioles, marking a rare occurrence in MLB history. This decision is the first of its kind since 1887, when a manager was dismissed after a significant win.
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Red Sox’s Alex Cora decision hasn't been done since the Cleveland Spiders played in 1887 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Alex Cora has been asked to pack his bags out of Boston right after the Red Sox registered a landslide 17-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. This has to do with a lackluster 10-17 start to the season. The firing is so deep that the Red Sox have asked Triple-A manager Chad Tracy to assume the position in the interim.
Cora's firing is so unique in a way that it came right after a big win. Looking into history books, the last time such a surprising dismissal came was in the 80s.
According to AP writer Josh Dubow, Cora is the first manager to be dismissed after securing 16+ runs win since 1887 when the New York Metropolitans fired Bob Ferguson following an 18-2 win over the Cleveland Spiders.
MLB was different in that era compared to today. The franchises these days want results, and if they see no future in the manager, they don't think twice before handing the pink slip. Cora became the latest casualty and the Red Sox could also have set a precedent for the rest of the struggling 2026 teams to decide the fate of their respective managers.
More: Alex Cora reveals two painfully obvious reasons why Red Sox were swept by Yankees
Alex Cora was not the only one let go.
The Red Sox also dismissed multiple members of his coaching staff, including hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Ramon Vazquez, third-base coach Kyle Hudson and assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson.
Alex Cora was fired due to a poor start to the season, with the team holding a 10-17 record despite a recent victory.
The last time an MLB manager was dismissed after a significant win was in 1887, when Bob Ferguson was fired after an 18-2 victory.
Triple-A manager Chad Tracy has been asked to assume the position of interim manager following Cora's dismissal.


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Meanwhile, the Red Sox are finding a new position for game-planning coach Jason Varitek within the organization. He is a two-time World Series winner with the Red Sox; therefore, the respect.
This season, the Red Sox have struggled on both sides of the plate. Even after bringing major reinforcements during the offseason, the team has not been able to produce results on expected lines. They ranked near the bottom of MLB in key categories like OPS and home runs.
Cora's tenure with Boston wasn't without success. He led the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series title. However, it had a separate sign-stealing controversy attached to it, though. Cora was previously dismissed in 2020 for his alleged role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal in 2017. He returned in 2021.